Team Fortress 2’s content drought has lasted quite some time but recent teases suggest new content dropping soon, and it could be TF2’s 2024 Summer Update.
The relationship between the Team Fortress 2 fandom and Valve has grown quite antagonistic over time. Once the free-to-play darling of Steam, TF2’s popularity has paradoxically grown in the years since it stopped receiving regular content updates. Valve primarily focused on Dota 2 during that time before pivoting to Counter-Strike Global Offensive and eventually releasing Counter-Strike 2. These days, Valve is seemingly neglecting everything else in favor of its possible TF2 replacement Deadlock.
Most TF2 updates in recent years have focused on bug fixes or community map support. One of the big highlights for TF2’s player base each year is the summer update, and the next one could be massive.
2024 TF2 Summer Update may include comic, esports-focused changes
A notable TF2 content creator has potentially teased a new update.
KritzKast, a notable TF2 esports channel, has posted multiple teasers for TF2 in the past few days. The channel once had official ties to Valve, specifically for the game’s competitive scene. On July 12, 2024, KritzKast posted a picture of a Valve binder. Although they mostly left vague responses to fan replies, more pictures came in the following days.
One picture in particular, of an orange Valve notebook, had the alt text “the purpose of video games is to hide secrets.” Whether that means secrets still exist in TF2 or the next update will introduce them remains a mystery.
It’s not just KritzKast teasing new Team Fortress 2 content, either. Jay Pinkerton, a writer at Valve, gave an official sneak peek of the next TF2 comic. Fans of TF2’s lore went ecstatic, especially given the comic hadn’t received an update in over seven years. The new comic may coincide with the release of a new update and the timing suggests that it could be TF2’s Summer Update for 2024.
The sneak peek included a page of vultures pecking at the remains of what is likely TF2 mercenaries. Many fans considered this a cheeky reference to the game itself, being scoured for any meat despite being “dead” for a long time. A script also accompanied the teaser, revealing Miss Pauling’s return as a significant character in the story.
While no release date for the comic or a potential TF2 patch has surfaced, TF2 fans remain optimistic about the game’s future.